The Republic of Cuba is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos that total nearly 4,200 islands, cays and islets in the northern Caribbean Sea. Relatively developed SIDS with multiple marine research institutes and centres.

The local climate is tropical, moderated by northeasterly trade winds. The temperature is also shaped by the Caribbean current, which brings in warm water from the equator. The warm temperatures of the Caribbean Sea and the fact that Cuba sits across the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico combine to make the country prone to frequent hurricanes. These are most common in September and October.